You’re not imagining it: An unusually large number of Americans are barfing these days.
There were 91 norovirus outbreaks reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the first week of December (shown by the orange line in the chart below), the latest week for which data is available. That’s more than has been reported at this time of year at any time since 2012.
Viral stomach bugs, which cause acute but blissfully brief episodes of vomiting and diarrhea — with or without brief periods of fever, chills, and body aches — usually flare up in the winter and subside in the warmer months. This year’s outbreak has been more violent than usual, with much higher outbreaks than in epidemic years (shown in blue lines) and pre-epidemic years (which fall within the gray-shaded area).
Additionally, at the end of December, about 23 percent of people tested positive for norovirus Clinical laboratory specimens Across the country—an extraordinarily high proportion, far above the typical peak of 10 to 15 percent.
The CDC statistics, while useful for comparing patterns from year to year, are a significant underestimate of real-world norovirus prevalence, says Lee-Ann Jaykusis a North Carolina State University microbiologist who directs NorkorA food virology collaboration among multiple federal agencies. “The numbers are really ish-y,” he said.
Information on norovirus outbreaks comes from a 14-state sample — not the entire U.S. — and the agency does not count individual norovirus cases. Many people don’t seek medical care for symptoms, and even if they do, norovirus is not a disease that doctors and labs need to report when they diagnose it.
Experts say they don’t think the trend is the result of more people seeking care for symptoms this year. “I think there is an increase in medically attended visits and infections, so the increase is real and not just an increase in testing,” said the Baylor College of Medicine norovirus researcher. Robert Atmar wrote in an email to Vox.
This is the best way to protect yourself during this season’s norovirus outbreak Wash your damn hands: Norovirus is primarily spread when traces of a sick person’s feces or vomit sneak into our mouths through our hands or food they prepared. But the virus spreads through it too Aerosol Anyone can walk around after the buff, so it’s also best to be careful if you’re around someone who’s come down with the bug.
Why are the levels of norovirus so high now?
Norovirus has reached higher than normal levels since the pandemic. This is probably related to the fact that immunity to the virus only lasts about a few years. Norovirus levels dropped during the pandemic because of more masking, more social distancing, and more careful hand and surface cleaning—and when people gave up these behaviors, there was less population-wide protection from the virus. This may explain why the US saw more outbreaks in post-pandemic years than in pre-pandemic years.
“My first thought was, ‘Gee, do we have a new look?'”
But this year’s rise is earlier and higher than the trends of the past few years. Why is this season so bad?
“My first thought was, ‘Gee, do we have a new variant?'” says Joykus In past years, New norovirus variants has been linked to a spike in infections worldwide. While the CDC’s Genetic analysis Circulating noroviruses have yet to show any dramatic changes this season, with many experts suggesting a new strain is likely.
“I can guarantee you that my colleagues at the CDC are doing a lot of sequencing right now to figure out if there’s a new strain, but it’s too early to tell,” Zekus said. (A CDC spokeswoman confirmed that reported outbreaks this season exceeded both recent and pre-pandemic numbers.)
How to protect yourself from norovirus, or take care of yourself if you get sick
Washing your hands, cleaning surfaces carefully, keeping your distance from people who are actively sick, and having someone around you who has recently had a barfed are the best ways to prevent the spread of this nasty infection.
If you’ve been infected with this very uncomfortable bug, take some comfort in the fact that it usually goes away as quickly as it came.
Staying hydrated is important: During nausea, sip water or an electrolyte drink every 15 to 30 minutes, and if you want to lie down later, pace yourself to reduce reflux. No need to slam a liter of liquid at once; You want to get enough to make some urine at least every six hours. Wait until you’re hungry to start eating solid foods and start with bland foods like bananas and dry toast.
Alcohol-based sanitizers don’t kill norovirus that well, so wash your hands with soap and water. And clean shared surfaces with a bleach-based product – only a few virus particles are needed to cause infection and it can survive on surfaces for weeks, so be as thorough as possible.
If you have bloody diarrhea, you can’t keep enough fluid to urinate, or your symptoms last more than three days, it’s time to seek medical attention.
Otherwise, thank your lucky stars it’s over, and keep washing those hands: People often shed norovirus. week After that first spectacular bathroom moment.
A norovirus vaccine is likely years away
In healthy people, a norovirus infection translates into some truly miserable bathroom moments, but it’s usually not fatal. However, the virus can be life-threatening for children and older adults, and scientists worldwide are working to develop a vaccine aimed at reducing the worst effects of the infection.
Several companies are attempting to develop a norovirus vaccine using both mRNA vaccine technology and more conventional vaccine development techniques, with varying levels of success. Hillwax A candidate vaccine has stopped working Moderna is in the final stages of development, after it proved ineffective in a recent test mRNA vaccine against the virus, and Vaxart is conducting several studies Oral pill vaccine candidateswhich has been moderately effective in blunting symptoms.
It hasn’t been an easy road, said Jakus, who has advised pharmaceutical companies on potential applications of norovirus vaccines. “There are literally hundreds [norovirus] strain,” he says, and the Food and Drug Administration wants a vaccine that will protect most, if not all, people. Additionally, manufacturers have found it challenging to develop a vaccine that lasts more than a few years.
It will likely be at least three to five years before a norovirus vaccine is available for children — the narrowest segment of the population, Jeckus said. After all, young children are not only the most affected by serious stomach bugs, they are also the most responsible for spreading the virus to the rest of us. They don’t wash their hands as regularly or thoroughly as adults, and they’re in each other’s faces all the time.
Older adults, especially those living in nursing homes, will take next priority because of how severe norovirus causes illness in that population. The rest of us have to wait longer for shots to protect us from the dreaded stomach bug.
